Saskatchewan Games

Last updated
Saskatchewan Games
Saskatchewan Games logo.png
StatusActive
GenreMulti-sport event
FrequencyBiennial
Location(s)Various
CountryCanada
Years active1972-present
Inaugurated1972;53 years ago (1972) (summer)
1974;51 years ago (1974) (winter)
Organised bySaskatchewan Games Council
Website https://saskgames.ca/

The Saskatchewan Summer Games and Saskatchewan Winter Games are biennial multi-sport events held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The governing body for the Saskatchewan Games is the Saskatchewan Games Council, a non-profit organization who has held responsibility for organizing the Games since 2006. Prior to the Council's incorporation, the program was managed by the Government of Saskatchewan. The Council is a member organization of Sask Sport Inc. and receives funding through Sask Lotteries.

Contents

The most recent Saskatchewan Winter Games took place in Regina from February 18-23, 2023, while the most recent Saskatchewan Summer Games took place in Lloydminster from July 21-27, 2024. The next edition of the Winter Games will take place in Flying Dust First Nation and the City of Meadow Lake from February 15-21, 2026; this will mark the first time in the program's history that a First Nation and neighbouring city will co-host the event.

The purpose of the Saskatchewan Games is to provide an opportunity for the province’s developing athletes, coaches and officials to participate in a multi sport event in preparation for a higher level of competition. Many Saskatchewan Games alumni have gone on to compete at larger national and international events, including the Canada Games and the North American Indigenous Games. A number of Canadian Olympic champions, including Colleen Sostorics, Emily Clark, and Lucas Makowsky, competed at the Saskatchewan Games early in their athletic careers.

History

The games began in 1972 when Roy Romanow, then Minister in charge of the Saskatchewan Youth Agency, announced the inauguration of the Games. The first Saskatchewan Summer Games were held in 1972 in Moose Jaw, and the first Saskatchewan Winter Games were held two years later in North Battleford. [1]

The 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games were initially scheduled to be held in Lloydminster. They were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but on December 21, 2020, it was announced that the games had been cancelled in full due to continued health and safety concerns. Lloydminster received the right of first refusal to host the 2024 Games, [2] [3] which it accepted. [4] In January 2022, the 2022 Saskatchewan Winter Games were also postponed due to COVID-19, citing the current Omicron variant and advice from public health officials. [5] The postponed Winter Games went forward in February 2023.

Host cities

Citing that they typically bid for national and international events, and to encourage the Games to be held in smaller cities, Regina and Saskatoon are ineligible to bid for any Saskatchewan Games. An exception was made for the 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games, which were awarded for the first time to Regina; the Saskatchewan Games Council cited the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smaller cities, and as being a special occasion to mark the 50th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Games. [6]

SummerWinter
1972 Moose Jaw 1974 The Battlefords
1976 Swift Current 1978 Moose Jaw
1980 Estevan 1982 Prince Albert
1984 The Battlefords 1986 Yorkton
1988 Melfort 1990 Melville/Ituna
1992 Prince Albert 1994 Kindersley
1996 Moose Jaw 1998 Nipawin
2000 Yorkton 2002 Humboldt
2004 Weyburn 2006 Melfort
2008 Lloydminster 2010 Moose Jaw
2012 Meadow Lake 2014 Prince Albert
2016 Estevan 2018 The Battlefords
2020 Cancelled2023 Regina
2024 Lloydminster [4] 2026 Flying Dust First Nation - City of Meadow Lake

Sports

Summer sports

Source: [7]

Winter sports

Source: [8]

Participating teams

Nine district teams, each representing a different region of Saskatchewan, participate in each instalment of the games. Two of the teams (Regina and Saskatoon) represent the province's main urban centres, while the other seven teams represent a mix of urban and rural athletes. The district teams, ordered by population, and the cities they include are listed as follows. [9] [10]

Medal tables

2012 Saskatchewan Summer Games
2012 Saskatchewan Summer Games medals
Location Meadow Lake
Highlights
Most total medals Regina (113)
Most gold medals Regina (39)
Most silver medals Regina (44)
Most bronze medals South West (30)
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Regina 394430113
2 Saskatoon 29211868
3 Lakeland 24211661
4 Prairie Central 22191657
5 South East 20252772
6 South West 13263271
7 Rivers West*12132146
8 North 82212
9 Parkland Valley 76922
Totals (9 entries)174177171522

Source: [11]

2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games
2014 Saskatchewan Winter Games medals
Location Prince Albert
Highlights
Most total medals Regina (89)
Most gold medals Saskatoon (38)
Most silver medals Regina (30)
Most bronze medals Regina (31)
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Saskatoon 38252487
2 Regina 28303189
3 Rivers West 22242167
4 Lakeland*22232570
5 Prairie Central 1471536
6 South West 13131844
7 South East 10151237
8 Parkland Valley 46313
9 North 25310
Totals (9 entries)153148152453

Flag points winner: Regina

Source: [12]

2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games
2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games medals
Location Estevan
Highlights
Most total medals Saskatoon (114)
Most gold medals Saskatoon (54)
Most silver medals Saskatoon (33)
Most bronze medals Saskatoon (27)
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Saskatoon 543327114
2 Regina 21312274
3 Prairie Central 19131951
4 South West 17181550
5 South East*16142353
6 Lakeland 1081129
7 Rivers West 612826
8 North 43714
9 Parkland Valley 3131632
Totals (9 entries)150145148443

Flag points winner: Saskatoon

Source: [13]

2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games
2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games medals
Location The Battlefords
Highlights
Most total medals Saskatoon (108)
Most gold medals Saskatoon (37)
Most silver medals Saskatoon (41)
Most bronze medals Regina (32)
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Saskatoon 374130108
2 Regina 32253289
3 Rivers West*21262269
4 Prairie Central 19211858
5 Lakeland 1861539
6 South West 12181242
7 South East 1081533
8 North 56617
9 Parkland Valley 54615
Totals (9 entries)159155156470

Flag points winner: Saskatoon

Source: [14]

2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games
2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games medals
Location Regina
Highlights
Most total medals Saskatoon (98)
Most gold medals Saskatoon (41)
Most silver medals Saskatoon (30)
Most bronze medals Saskatoon (27)
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Saskatoon 41302798
2 Regina*24212469
3 Prairie Central 21141651
4 South West 1514837
5 Rivers West 8111736
6 Parkland Valley 7101027
7 Lakeland 6171134
8 South East 57820
9 North 3025
Totals (9 entries)130124123377

Flag points winner: Saskatoon

Source: [15]

2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games
2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games
Host city Lloydminster
Athletes1476 from 9 teams
Events14 sports
OpeningJuly 21, 2024
ClosingJuly 27, 2024
Main venueCentennial Civic Centre
Website Saskgames.ca
Summer
 Estevan 2016
TBD 2028 
Winter
 Regina 2023
Meadow Lake 2026 
2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games medals
Location Lloydminster
Highlights
Most total medals Regina (111)
Most gold medals Regina (54)
Most silver medals Saskatoon (36)
Most bronze medals Regina (28)
Saskatoon (28)

Number of athletes by team

RankingTeamAthletes
1 Saskatoon 208
2 Regina 203
3 Rivers West 185
4 Prairie Central 171
5 Lakeland 170
6 South East 165
7 South West 162
8 Parkland Valley 144
9 North 68

Source: [16]

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Regina 542928111
2 Saskatoon 31362895
3 South West 16131645
4 Prairie Central 88824
5 Parkland Valley 7131333
6 South East 631120
7 North 411520
8 Lakeland 39820
9 Rivers West*2111326
Totals (9 entries)131133130394

Flag points winner: Regina

Source: [17]

See also

References

  1. "History of the Games « Saskatchewan Games Council". saskgames.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  2. "2021 Saskatchewan Summer Games Called Off Due to Health and Safety Concerns". saskgames.ca. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  3. Blair, Mitchell. "2021 Sask Summer Games called off". 620 CKRM The Source | Country Music, News, Sports in Sask. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  4. 1 2 "Lloydminster named host of the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games". www.lloydminster.ca. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-31.
  5. "COVID-19: Saskatchewan Winter Games event cancelled, host exploring options for future date | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  6. Hanna, Claire (2020-07-14). "2022 Sask. Winter Games awarded to Regina". CTV News Regina. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  7. "Sports « Saskatchewan Games Council". saskgames.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  8. "2018 Saskatchewan Games". skg2018.gems.pro. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  9. "Sport, Culture and Recreation Districts". Sask Sport. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  10. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-02-09). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
  11. "2012 Saskatchewan Games". skg2012.gems.pro. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  12. "2014 Saskatchewan Games". skg2014.gems.pro. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  13. "2016 Saskatchewan Games". skg2016.gems.pro. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  14. "2018 Saskatchewan Games". skg2018.gems.pro. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  15. "2023 Saskatchewan Games". skg2023.gems.pro. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  16. "2024 Saskatchewan Games". skg2024.gems.pro. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  17. "2024 Saskatchewan Games medal standings". skg2024.gems.pro. Retrieved 2024-09-06.